Beyond Shape. Beyond Boundaries. Only 1 ½ years after the previous full length was released on Darkness Shall Rise, we are thrilled to announce AZKETEM's return. "Amid," the third album of Berlin based AZKETEM whilst continuing their style known from previous releases, first and foremost, represents a sonically new chapter. Besides keeping with the tradition of christening his albums with a single word starting with the letter a, "Amid" is also proof that AZKETEM's mastermind and sole member Azken is still driven to craft melancholic and densely atmospheric Metal.

The album has six songs, and "Erected to Commemorate" is first. The pace is slow at first, but that opening scream could send you into an early grave. Meaty bass notes prance about and the baritone vocals bring a harrowing edge to the sound. "End it All" has deep, cavernous tones that seem to make a larger hole in the earth than the crater that ended dinosaur life on earth. Yet, the clean vocals are almost playful at times, and there are melodies amidst the firm tones. There is an eeriness to the music that keeps your senses heightened. "Nights Adrift" has a bit of a groove with the nasty riff, and it sound anthemic, or at least demonstrative. The backbone of the song is strong like Metal is, but the vocals and melody suggest some real genre bending.

"T-O-I-F-T-G" is another curious offering that stays true to what we have heard so far on the album. The production is muted, and the guitars maintain much of the presence, but rather than screams, we get cleans, and a touch of melody. "By Light" has a raucous riff and its energy is fed by equal parts light and dark…hope and despair…melody and dissonance. Some of the rhythms pound with authority. "Riven Astray" is the final offering. The clean guitars bounce a bit, while the clean vocal hums suggest something more nefarious. The song has a dreamy quality to it, almost like the time when you first nod off, or begin to wake.

This isn't your typical Black Metal album. Azekn infuses Gothic threads into the album, which is unusual, and his songwriting is not the common frigid aggression that you hear in the genre. The album is nuance, and even melodic at times, in a dark sort of way. Forget what you think you know about Black Metal and step into his world for a gem you won't often find.